RichG Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 1 hour ago, Mark72 said: Am I the only one to fall into the trap of firstly buying the latest magazine edition online and then buying the paper version too, because it's easier (for me) to read? I keep saying one or the other but not both, but that hasn't worked so far!! Nope, I do exactly the same... Although during lockdown there is no easy access to the paper copy for me that doesn't involve driving 8 miles - I could try and argue essential shopping, but... so the digital copy is a godsend; particularly when there is a feature I really want to read. Rich 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Any hint to what maybe included in the second release. I'm sure we saw a full bomb load in the CAD drawing. I think the Falklands aircraft are the most famous, except for 558. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 9 minutes ago, Adam Poultney said: XH558 is a pretty early B2, only the second one with the wider intakes. She had a unique service life, the legacy of which is visible on the airframe today. I don't know if there's a full list, but the notable ones are as follows: Olympus 202s, most Vulcan B2s with the 200 series engines had 201s, 558 has 202s which are from when she was a K2 tanker No air scoop on the tailcone. Again, a leftover feature from being a K2. The K2 had the ECM stuff in the tail removed and replaced, so the air scoop went. 558 never had this reinstalled. X band Jammer with two emitter heads. Not an unusual feature on its own, but only two XH batch Vulcans (XH538 and XH557) had the single emitter version and none had the two emitter version until XH558 was reverted to B2 configuration from K2. The panel which its on came from another airframe. Totally non standard rear cockpit area. Most of the stuff in there was ripped out, I'm not sure what it looks like currently but there will be photos out there. TFR modification but no TFR blister. 558 was fitted with the TFR blister like most other B2s, but had it removed when converted to the MRR role, being replaced with a round plate to cover the gap. Many Vulcans had this for a while after the mod was done in the late 60s before the TFR blister was actually fitted, but it's slightly unusual for one to have gone back to no TFR blister. XM603 and XL318 (and XL361?) also have this feature today. Inaccurate camo. The camo is the wrong colour for a wrap around Vulcan, it should be darker. Looks nice on a display aircraft, but it's not accurate for a regular Vulcan. This is one of the reasons I would have liked to see a different scheme in the 2010 repaint. And probably a whole load of other things I either don't know about or have forgotten The darker scheme, lacked contrast and was little bland for the display circuit. Med gray and dark green looked good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 I have a few questions about this kit that I hope you are able to answer @general melchett Does the kit have the full set of blisters associated with the Skybolt program under the wings? I can see the twin blisters and the one further back but am struggling to see if it has the coolant blister just forward of the twin blisters or not Which version of the X Band Jammer is in the kit? Is it one emitter head or two, or have both been included? I can't see the tail bumper on the model, is it just the photos or is it there? Have they the early style of VHF aerials, the one they first had that looks a bit like the pitot tubes but backwards. I see your build has the yellow one of a more uniform shape fitted in the 70s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertF Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Thanks for such an elaborate reply! I still have the resin conversion set for the old kit including the 202s so that could come in handy. The rest should be pretty straightforward to correct. As far as the different rear cockpit area is concerned, that does not bother me at all as I doubt whether anyone could see that, let alone tell, with such tiny cockpit windows. So rationality over accuracy on this one (now ducking for cover). Regarding the camo, I agree that the lighter grey (MSG) is not accurate for a regular Vulcan, but I do think it looked/looks great on 588 and as I want to build her, wrong becomes right (ducking again). It's a bit like fact free politics isn't it? Any idea where I can find the FündeKal sheet? No luck with the Big H and the company's website is being reconstructed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Quote Ah thanks for the clarification on that. I thought when I first read the article and saw the photos of the tail fin it was a mistake in those markings / era. If I had read the by-line I would never have doubted! Rich, XM597 was the first aircraft noted with the new rectangular fin cap, circa 1973, that's the reason I went for it as it looked different from the standard B2s of the era. The white Red Steer RWR cone was short lived as was the white upper circular dielectric cover. She was also fitted with the full Skybolt suite which was a major reason she saw action in the Falkland's campaign. Here she is at the Greenham Common show in 1974 a show I remember very well as we were there both days, great memories. My good mate Rob Hayes added the soundtrack to this clip, certainly captures the power of the beast. (Apols if they have been posted previously in this thread). This is another excellent video of the early high-gloss camouflaged B2s. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertF Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 42 minutes ago, general melchett said: The 1/72nd set has been out of production for a while now and very hard to come by, also the site is down at the moment awaiting an overhaul, so hopefully they will release them again soon. They really are superb. Sorry, did not see your post until after I put in my own. Yes, hopefully they will re-release the set 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertF Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 45 minutes ago, general melchett said: Luckily my good friend and fellow Vulcan nut, Jan Forsgren.... ...... had a spare sheet he kindly donated to me for favours received...don't ask, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet. Must be the old regimental tie network General 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 (edited) Quote have a few questions about this kit that I hope you are able to answer @general melchett Does the kit have the full set of blisters associated with the Skybolt program under the wings? I can see the twin blisters and the one further back but am struggling to see if it has the coolant blister just forward of the twin blisters or not Which version of the X Band Jammer is in the kit? Is it one emitter head or two, or have both been included? I can't see the tail bumper on the model, is it just the photos or is it there? Have they the early style of VHF aerials, the one they first had that looks a bit like the pitot tubes but backwards. I see your build has the yellow one of a more uniform shape fitted in the 70s Adam, Firstly, yes all the Skybolt parts are there, including the twin blisters, rear dome and forward coolant blister, (XM594 only had the coolant blister fitted, so to build any other airframe, references are needed), also if you're building a 200 series aircraft the four small raised inlet ducts (two pairs adjacent to the main gear bays) for the high altitude anti-icing system need to be removed as these aircraft didn't have this fitted. Both X-band emitter heads are included, single and double. The tail bumper is also included but you'll have to add your own over-rotation sensor, as it was minute. Yes, both styles of VHF aerials are included, early swept and later vertical style. Hope this helps. Edited February 6, 2021 by general melchett 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichG Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 11 minutes ago, general melchett said: This is another excellent video of the early high-gloss camouflaged B2s. Brilliant videos Andy; my favourite scheme - many thanks. At the moment I have it in mind to do Vulcan B2 XM599, 35 Squadron based at RAF Cottesmore from that famous photo of it releasing a full bomb load of twenty-one 1000lb bombs during an exercise in 1965. Thanks again - now where's my volume control... Rich 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Quote I agree that the lighter grey (MSG) is not accurate for a regular Vulcan, but I do think it looked/looks great on 588 Thanks Robert, just one thing though, the Vulcans of the period were finished in MSG/DG over white and later over LAG. There were a couple of exceptions like XM600 which featured DSG/DG for a brief period before reverting to the standard scheme. XH558 was actually painted a different colour, somewhere between DSG and MSG along with the strange positioning of the wing roundels, it was a bit of a Frankenstein scheme wise, but a beautiful one nonetheless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 10 minutes ago, general melchett said: Adam, Firstly, yes all the Skybolt parts are there, including the twin blisters, rear dome and forward coolant blister, (XM594 only had the coolant blister fitted, so to build any other airframe, references are needed), also if you're building a 201 engined aircraft the four small raised ducts (two pairs adjacent to the main gear bays) for the high altitude anti-icing system need to be removed as they didn't have this. Both X-band emitter heads are included, single and double. The tail bumper is included but you'd have to add your own over rotation sensor as it was minute. Yes, both styles of VHF aerials are included, early vertical and later swept style. Hope this helps. brilliant! I don't know if you've seen my most recent 1/200 scale vulcan, but I've gone insane making sure they're all accurate as I can make them in configuration at least. The over rotation sensor, well that sounds fun to add, but probably less fun to break. I bought have to miss that on mine then and stick to obsessing over blisters and aerials. 3 minutes ago, general melchett said: There were a couple of exceptions like XM600 which featured DSG/DG for a brief period before reverting to the standard scheme. Is there any photographic evidence of this one? I've never seen any 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 (edited) There you go Adam, she had a replacement rudder fitted which included the original MSG by way of contrast. XM600 in DSG/DG at RAAF Butterworth And I certainly trust Dick Ward of Modeldecals. I'll definitely have a look at your 1/200th model, cheers. Edited February 5, 2021 by general melchett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 1 hour ago, general melchett said: There you go Adam, she had a replacement rudder fitted which included the original MSG by way of contrast. XM600 in DSG/DG at RAAF Butterworth And I certainly trust Dick Ward of Modeldecals. I'll definitely have a look at your 1/200th model, cheers. Looks like I'm building XM600 in DSG soon then, thanks for sharing that, I've never seen photographic proof of the scheme before. Might try it in 1:200, gives me a challenge to make the Sqn markings, although I already have the right ones in 1:144 so that would just be easier..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Also, I found this in my archive. in 1967, XM597 was also seen in temporary DSG/DG. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 17 minutes ago, general melchett said: Also, I found this in my archive. in 1967, XM597 was also seen in temporary DSG/DG. Oh wow! How do you even find these things? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted February 5, 2021 Share Posted February 5, 2021 Over the years I’ve managed to accumulate a fairly extensive library on all things V-Force Adam, thanks to many friends and contacts who have some pretty unique photo-collections. Every bit helps, stuff is turning up all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Ranger Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 9 hours ago, RobertF said: Sorry, did not see your post until after I put in my own. Yes, hopefully they will re-release the set Fundekals informed me last year when the new Vulcan kit was announced that they had plans to re-release their Vulcan decals. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted February 6, 2021 Author Share Posted February 6, 2021 10 minutes ago, Space Ranger said: Fundekals informed me last year when the new Vulcan kit was announced that they had plans to re-release their Vulcan decals. oh good I will certainly pick up a few sheets, probably some more in 1:144 as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 (edited) One word of warning regarding the 1/72nd Fundekal sheet. For some odd reason the roundels are the wrong size. According to the design team the Airfix kit will include the correct sizes, so use those instead. The Fundekal fuselage roundels are way undersize and the wing roundel oversize! I replaced them with items from the Xtradecals and Airdoc sheets. The rest of the sheet is spot on. Talking of decal sheets, I was sent a few to review and personally, I'd avoid using the Kits-World sheet as virtually none of the decals are correct, wrong font, size, simplified detail and overly thick to boot. On the other hand I also received their new 3D-printed pre-coloured cockpit set, which looks excellent, looking forward to using it. I can see a raft of Vulcan related stuff being released very soon. Edited February 6, 2021 by general melchett 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 12 hours ago, Space Ranger said: Fundekals informed me last year when the new Vulcan kit was announced that they had plans to re-release their Vulcan decals. Yes, I’m good friends with the two of them and this is accurate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cherry268 Posted February 6, 2021 Share Posted February 6, 2021 Jumblies have on their site that it will be dipatched on 30/04/21 https://www.jumbliesmodels.com/plastic-kits-c3/aviation-kits-c4/airfix-1-72-avro-vulcan-b-2-aircraft-model-kit-p16755 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robvulcan Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 On 05/02/2021 at 16:26, general melchett said: Here she is at the Greenham Common show in 1974 a show I remember very well as we were there both days, great memories. My good mate Rob Hayes added the soundtrack to this clip, certainly captures the power of the beast. Well well (Three holes in the ground ) it’s been a VERY long time... since I logged in here sadly. (Been a lot going on...) Wow my dream kit has finally arrived and still trying to finish more of the old kit off. Excellent work on this General good sir ! it’s ironic you picked the same Vulcan you challenged me to build in a few weeks for the Cosford 2014 show. Happy memories and hope we can soon sit these two beside each other at more shows in the near future when we have Nuked Covid into oblivion. here is the old beast from then. I can’t wait to get my hands on 89 of these beauties haha ! Cheers Rob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Bob Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 On 05/02/2021 at 15:44, general melchett said: The 1/72nd set has been out of production for a while now and very hard to come by, also the site is down at the moment awaiting an overhaul, so hopefully they will release them again soon. They really are superb. Just after the last Telford show I was buying some decals from Fundekals, I mentioned that the new tool Vulcan kit had been announced, they were aware that it was due out the following year and they were going to be re-releasing their 1/72nd Vulcan decal sheet when it comes out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertF Posted February 7, 2021 Share Posted February 7, 2021 On 2/6/2021 at 2:58 AM, Space Ranger said: Fundekals informed me last year when the new Vulcan kit was announced that they had plans to re-release their Vulcan decals. Excellent news! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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